October 2, 2000

BGCT will provide information
on verified clergy sexual abusers
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--The Baptist General Convention of Texas will maintain a record of clergy known to be involved in sexual abuse and will make information about specific individuals available to officials from inquiring churches.
___The BGCT Executive Board at its Sept. 26 meeting adopted the policy recommendation from the clergy sexual abuse committee of the Christian Life Commission, as affirmed by the convention's Administrative Committee Sept. 7-8.
___The Christian Life Commission in 1998 established a special committee to study the problem of clergy sexual abuse and bring recommendations to the convention.
___Members of the committee included commission staff, women who work with victims of abuse, professional psychologists, attorneys, pastors and church staff, and representatives from Woman's Missionary Union of Texas, the BGCT minister/church relations office, and the Ministers Counseling Service.
___"The committee immediately became aware that clergy sexual abuse is indeed a problem in many faith groups. Nor are Baptists immune from the problem," the committee concluded.
___According to the newly adopted policy, BGCT Executive Board employees are instructed to direct any reports of clergy sexual abuse to the office of minister/church relations. If no representative of that office is available, calls will be directed to the director of the Christian Life Commission or the coordinator of the Ministers Counseling Service.
___The minister/church relations office will maintain a file on reported cases of clergy sexual abuse.
___"A case will be put into the file only when a minister confesses to the abuse, there is a legal conviction or there is substantial evidence that the abuse took place," according to the adopted policy statement. Convention attorneys will review the cases to determine if substantial evidence is present.
___Information regarding known cases of clergy sexual abuse will be released only to an officer of an inquiring church, such as the chairman of deacons, the chairperson of a search committee or a church's legal trustees.
___Any released information will carry the following legal disclaimer: "In keeping with the mission and a spirit of public service, the convention endeavors to maintain record of allegations of sexual abuse or sexual improprieties by members of the clergy. We do not have the resources to make independent investigation of these allegations, nor can we vouch for the accuracy of the information reported to us. Churches are advised to investigate the background of potential employees or members of the clergy independent of the convention and not to rely exclusively on any information provided by the convention."
___Phil Strickland, chairman of the study committee and director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, said the committee looked carefully at the issue of legal liability, but members determined that the more important issue was the moral imperative.
___"If you keep a list, you are subject to liability. If you do not keep a list, you are subject to liability," Strickland said, summarizing the advice of legal counsel.
___"But after that discussion, then we directed the focus to our moral obligation. That was a very, very short discussion."
___In addition to the policy change, the board also received a report that the BGCT Administrative Committee had approved other committee recommendations regarding clergy sexual abuse.
___Specifically, the committee recommended that the BGCT develop and distribute educational materials on the problem of clergy sexual abuse, provide counseling both for victims and perpetrators of abuse, and mobilize trained professionals to assist local churches impacted by clergy sexual abuse.

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